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Joyce Carol Oates sees "The Picture of Dorian Gray" as a revelation as to another side of Wilde; one that questioned the aestheticism professed by Lord Henry and other characters in the novel.
She claims that the book evokes Faust and the devil, as the portrait of Dorian Gray was surely evil and the aesthetic beauty of Dorian corrupted by demonic influence. In this light, A Picture of Dorian Gray is a cautionary tale and its protagonist a tragic hero that is eventually overcome by his own carnal lusts. Oates focuses on the homoerotic undertones of the book and that by invoking Dorian's beauty, Basil sewed the seeds of his own fate.
What she fails to recognize in the book, however, is the role of pederasty and how Basil is in effect a tragic hero, as is Humbert in Nabakov's Lolita. A careful read of Wilde's work will show us that Basil succumbs to Dorian's beauty and that his creation of the portrait is a metaphorical description...
Whereas Lord Henry is a less sublime corruptive influence in that he openly extols the virtues of promiscuity, Basil reveals Dorian's beauty to him by painting a portrait. Basil's love for the boy gives Dorian power, and the portrait is a device relaying the nature of that power. As Basil's portrait is an act of mastery whereby he is able to 'capture' Dorian, it is Basil that is entrapped by Dorian's Adonis-like beauty. We see this reflected in Wilde's personal life if the movie 'Wilde' can be believed: the enraptured pederast will always see the playful youth as a projection of his own desires, no matter how crooked or terrible the truth may be. In this respect, Dorian is far from the victim; the portrait serves as his transformation, however subtle, from his role as unknowing, unsuspecting child to that of a skilled manipulator of adult lusts.
Oates' interpretation of the novel quo Faust…
Despite these differences, there are also many similarities between the two. The plot similarities are obvious, including the fact that both have affairs beginning and continuing in similar circumstances. Both have husbands that they do not wish to leave, partly out of habit and partly out of pity. They compartmentalize their lives and are able to think of themselves as somehow different people when with their husbands and with their
..Dad was an impatient man, any display of weakness made him squirm. Mom smiled at his words of criticism but rarely contradicted, not quick or bold enough, to match wits with him" (77). Another symbolic illustration of suppression within Oates' family in "We were" is the apparent conflict that Bim experiences for his father. He tries to suppress both love and hate for his father, for expressing love would mean "weakness"
Manipulation is the primary theme of Joyce Carol Oates' short story, "Where are You Going, Where Have You Been?" Through the careful development of her characters, Oates presents us with details that enhance a tale of violent manipulation thrust upon an innocent girl. This paper will examine Oates' technique and how it contributes to the overall effect of the story. Oates spends a considerable amount of time describing Connie. Our first
Teenagers in Conflict With Their Environment At the time of the stories Teenagers are often in conflict with their environment. What some call the "rebellious" years are at times just periods in a person's life where he or she may feel confused, lost, and alone. Three stories by Oates, Boyle, and Gilman highlight the lives of teenagers and their conflicts within their worlds. Each character will show how teenagers may act; the
Melville�s Spouter Inn Some of the best descriptive essay�examples can be found among the writings of the greatest authors.� Consider a chapter in Moby-Dick by Herman Melville:� every chapter of that book is like a mini-descriptive essay.� Look at the way Melville uses description to create atmospheric effect in the first line of �Chapter 3:� The Spouter Inn� from Moby-Dick:� �Entering that gable-ended Spouter-Inn, you found yourself in a wide, low,
Small Avalanches1One of the biggest challenges for Munro was simply getting the rights to the story to make the film. She called three times a week for 2 months to Oates� literary agent and got nowhere. Finally, she just went to where Oates was teaching at Princeton, waited outside her office, and spoke to her in person and that is how she got permission to use the story for her